FORT WAYNE, Ind. (21Alive) -- Deadrian Boykins, sentenced last week to 65 years on an Allen County murder conviction, has now been charged with battery to a law enforcement officer, after police say he attacked a jail guard with a food tray and his fists on Christmas morning.

The confinement officer is Quinton Greer, who is in serious but stable condition at a local hospital, recovering from a broken nose, broken cheekbone, and a laceration under his eye.

Fries has ordered that the more than 680 inmates in the jail right now be confined to their cells on lockdown until further notice.

According to court documents, Officer Greer was collecting food trays from a cellbock where violent offenders are housed Wednesday morning, when Boykins struck Greer with a tray from his blind side.

The officer fell to the floor, then Boykins allegedly punched him at least 15 times with his closed fist, before striking him in the head one more time with a tray.

Boykins talked to officers after the incident, claiming about an hour before the attack, he approached Greer, saying, "I asked (him) to leave the television on for a few minutes, show some holiday spirit."

According to Boykins, "Greer stated a man is dead because of you, where's your holiday cheer."

Boykins told officers, " I warned Greer about disrespecting me."

Sheriff Fries says the attack was captured on video surveillance cameras, and it shows more than a dozen other inmates standing around watching the beating, and that no prisoners made a move to intervene and protect the officer who was alone in the cellblock.

Boykins faces a "C" felony charge that carries a penalty of up to 8 years in prison, if there is a conviction.

Sheriff Fries says he plans to request additional funding from Allen County Council, to boost staffing in light of what happened to Officer Greer.

Fries applauded other law enforcement officers who responded and subdued Boykins, saying they showed amazing restraint in taking the inmate into custody without retaliating in any way.

Greer has three years on the job as a confinement officer.

Boykins was convicted of murder last month in the April shooting death of 17-year old Elijah Freeman, outside a home on Hugh Street.

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